A 45-year-old client who has smoked 1 pack per day for 20 years expresses a desire to quit after experiencing mild shortness of breath during daily activities. The client is worried about withdrawal symptoms and sustaining long-term success. What is the most appropriate action by the nurse to support the client’s goal of quitting smoking?
Encourage the client to gradually decrease the number of cigarettes smoked each week until a complete cessation is reached.
Advise the client to stop smoking as soon as possible to prevent further damage to their lungs and schedule a follow-up appointment for progress evaluation.
Work with the client to implement a plan that combines pharmacological options and counseling to ease withdrawal and promote long-term change.
Recommend quitting without the use of medications, as relying on willpower and lifestyle modifications is a healthier approach.
The correct answer provides a structured and evidence-based plan by emphasizing the use of NRT in combination with behavioral support. This combination addresses both physical withdrawal symptoms and the psychological habits tied to smoking, which significantly improves the likelihood of success. Advising immediate cessation overlooks the importance of managing withdrawal symptoms and does little to address the client’s concerns about addiction. Suggesting a reduction without specific tools like counseling lacks structure and is less effective as a standalone method. Avoiding pharmacological support entirely disregards the strong evidence supporting NRT as a component of successful smoking cessation programs.
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